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Study of the Histopathological Changes in the Heart in Postmortem/Autopsy Cases in Tertiary Care Center
Shivaji Dadarao Birare1, Dinesh Vishwanath Swami2, Sarika Sanjay Gaikwad3
1Department of General Medicine, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, India.
Insights
Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertrophy, are increasingly causing sudden cardiac death, particularly in males aged 31-40. This highlights the urgent need for preventative strategies against these prevalent heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Forensic Medicine
- Histomorphology
Background:
- Global cardiac-related fatalities have risen significantly over the past five decades.
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major health concern in India, with a notable increase in sudden cardiac deaths worldwide.
- Autopsy studies are crucial for understanding the pathological basis of sudden cardiac death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of cardiac diseases in autopsy cases.
- To determine the association between cardiac pathology and sudden death.
- To analyze histomorphological alterations in cardiac specimens.
Main Methods:
- Examination of 180 cardiac specimens from autopsy cases (October 2019 - October 2021).
- Histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining on paraffin-embedded sections.
- Assessment of cardiac histomorphological alterations.
Main Results:
- The highest incidence of cardiac disease was observed in the 31-40 age group (20.2%).
- Triple-vessel involvement was present in 61.5% of cases.
- Cardiac hypertrophy was found in 52.7% of the studied cases.
Conclusions:
- Atherosclerosis and hypertrophy are prevalent cardiovascular diseases contributing to sudden death.
- Sudden death cases exhibited a specific distribution pattern, with a higher prevalence in males.
- There is an urgent need for effective preventive measures and interventions for cardiovascular diseases.
Context:
There has been a significant increase in global cardiac-related fatalities, particularly over the last five decades. In India, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as a prevalent condition. Moreover, the incidence of sudden cardiac death has shown a steady rise worldwide.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to research how frequently cardiac disease was found during postmortem/autopsy cases and how it affects sudden death.
Materials And Methods:
The research was conducted at the Department of Pathology, SRTR, GMC, Ambajogai, India. One hundred and eighty cardiac specimens were examined from October 2019 to October 2021. Formalin-fixed heart specimens had multiple sections cut out of them at 4-5 mm intervals. The tissues underwent preparation, followed by sectioning into 4 μm thickness using paraffin. The standard staining method of hematoxylin and eosin was used to stain the samples. Different cardiac histomorphological alterations were assessed.
Results:
The study included 180 autopsy cases. The highest numbers of cases were observed in the age group of 31-40 years (20.2%). Triple-vessel involvement was seen in the majority of 61.5% of cases, out of 180 cases, 52.7% of cases were of hypertrophy.
Conclusions:
The research highlights the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis and hypertrophy. Notably, sudden death cases showed a distinct distribution across the study years, with males being predominantly affected. This underscores the urgent need for preventive measures and interventions to prevalent cardiovascular conditions effectively.
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